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Falklands drilling 'to go ahead' | |
(20 minutes later) | |
Drilling off the coast of the Falkland Islands will begin next week despite strong opposition from Argentina, the UK territory's government has insisted. | |
Argentina has brought in controls on ships passing through its waters to the islands over UK plans for oil drilling. | |
The Falklands' Legislative Assembly said the restrictions were "no surprise" but said exploration would "commence as planned". | |
An oil rig is due to arrive in the islands' waters from the UK. | |
The rig, the Ocean Guardian, has been travelling from Invergordon in the Cromarty Firth since November. | |
Owner Desire Petroleum said its rig "has not gone anywhere near Argentine waters". | |
Argentina has threatened to take "adequate measures" to stop British oil exploration in contested waters around the islands and has announced that boats sailing from its ports to the Falklands will need a permit. | |
In a statement, the Assembly said it had "every right" to develop "legitimate business" in hydrocarbons. | |
Describing the controls introduced by Argentina, it added: "This is a move by Argentina to try and disrupt the oil drilling due to start early next week. | |
"It is no surprise to anyone that they are behaving in this way, but it is nonetheless disappointing when they do." | |
The statement said that all supplies needed by the industry were already located on the island and drilling would begin as planned next week, "weather permitting". |